Moving ball on magnetic track



May 22, 1956 Filed July 31, 1955 J. H. HAMMOND, JR

MOVING BALL ON MAGNETIC TRACK 2 sheets-sneer 1 i 1 QLHNUH May 22, 1956J. H. HAMMOND, JR

MOVING BALL ON MAGNETIC TRACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1953INVENTOR. JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

United States Patent O 2,746,206 MOVING BALL N MAGNETIC TRACK John HaysHammond, Jr., Gloucester, Mass. Application July 31, 1953, Serial No.371,491 1 Claim. (Cl. 46-43) This invention relates to magnetic toys andmore particularly to a device comprising a magnetic track on which rollsan iron ball under the control of a moving magnetic eld.

More specifically the device comprises a track of any desiredconfiguration provided with a series of electromagnets which areenergized consecutively by means of a commutator to provide a travellingmagnetic eld for moving an iron ball along the track at any desiredspeed.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth andclaimed.

The nature of the invention, as to its objects and advantages, the modeof its operation and the manner of its organization, may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, inwhich- Fig. 1 is a view of a device constructed in accordance with theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a commutator for operating the deviceshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the apparatus shown inFig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures ofthe drawing.

In the following description parts will be identified by specific namesfor convenience, but they are intended to be generic in theirapplication to similar parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1 abase 11 is provided on which is mounted a frame 12. Secured to the frame12 is a serpentine shaped casing 13, having a U-shaped cross-section(Fig. 4) in which is mounted a pair of rails 14 forming a track. Mountedat intervals on the rails 14 are a plurality of electromagnets 15-18,21-25, 27, 28, etc. A large and powerful electro-magnet 29 is mounted atthe head of the track.

For energizing these electro-magnets a commutator 31 is provided, Fig.2. This commutator comprises a plurality of contacts, 32-35, 36-40, 42,43, etc. arranged in a circle about a shaft 45, which is suitablymounted for rotation. Attached to the shaft 45 is a circular disc 46made of insulating material on which is mounted a circular ring 47 ofconducting material. Secured to the disc 46 are iive brushes 51--55which in the position shown engage the contacts 34, 33, 32 and 43. Thebrush 53 is connected directly to the ring 47 while the four brushes51-52 and 54-55 are connected to this ring thru four resistors 56-59respectively. The resistors 56 and 59 are of higher resistance than theresistors 57 and 58.

Engaging the ring 47 is a fixed brush 61 which is connected thru abattery 62 and a switch 63 to a conductor 64 which in turn is connectedto one side of all the electromagnets in the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.The other sides of all these electromagnets are connected by individualconductors to the individual contacts of the commutator 31. Thus, forexample, the contacts 32-35 are connected to the magnets 29, 15, 16 and17 respectively by conductors 66-69; the contacts 36-40 are connected tothe magnets 21--25 respectively by conductors 71--75 and the contacts 42and 43 are connected to the magnets 27 and 28 respectively by conductors77 and 78. Secured 2,746,206 Patented May 22, 1956 to the shaft 45 is aworm wheel 81 which meshes with a worm 82 mounted on the shaft 83 of amotor 84 which is supplied with current from a battery 86. A switch 85is provided for controlling the operation of the motor 84.

A hollow ball 88, made of magnetic material, is shown in its initialposition in Fig. 1. The commutator 31 is also shown in its initialposition in Fig. 2. When the switch 63 is closed, current will How fromthe battery 62 thru the brush 61, ring 47, brush 53, contact 32,conductor 66, magnet 29 and back along conductor 64 to the battery 62.This will cause the energization of magnet 29 which will hold the ball88 in the position shown in Fig. 1. At the same time a reduced amount ofcurrent will ilow from the battery 62 thru the resistors 56-59, contacts51-52 and 54-55 and magnets 28, 15 and 16. The magnetic elds of thesemagnets will be comparatively weak so that they will not appreciablyaffect the position of the ball 88.

In the operation of the mechanism, when it is desired to start the ball88 rolling along the track the switch 85 is closed thus starting themotor 84, which by means of the worm 82 and worm wheel 81 causes theshaft 45 together with the disc 46 to rotate in a clockwise direction asshown by the arrow. As the disc 46 rotates, it will cause the brushes51--55 to move in a clockwise direction thus engaging successively thecontacts 32-35 which in turn will successively energize the magnets15-18. As these magnets are successively energized a moving magneticfield will be produced which will cause the ball 88 to travel along thetrack inthe direction of the arrow.

As the commutator 31 continues to rotate this moving magnetic field willtravel along the track causing the ball 88 to travel along with it, asshown by the dotted line positions of this ball. As may be seen from thedrawings this ball will travel in inverted positions apparently defyingthe law of gravity. At certain places, as indicated at 91 and 92 thetrack may be twisted thus causing the ball to change from one positionto another.

When the brushes 51-55 reach the elongated contact 42 they will al1remain on this segment for a short interval of time which will cause theball to stop in front of magnet 27 for a brief interval after which itwill start moving again. When the brushes reach the elongated contact 43the ball will stop opposite the magnet 28 until brush 53V engagescontact 32 at which time the large magnet 29 will be fully energizedcausing the ball to jump from magnet 28 to magnet 29. The cycle ofoperation will then be repeated.

Although only a few of the various forms in which this invention may beembodied have been shown herein, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to any specic construction but may be embodiedin various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A toy comprising a member forming a track and having two ends spaced toform a gap to be jumped, a series of electromagnets disposed along saidtrack and at the ends forming said gap, a ball of magnetic materialmovable along said track within the range of magnetic inuence of saidelectromagnets and held to said track thereby, at least a portion ofsaid track being inverted whereby the ball hangs therefrom supportedsolely by the influence of said magnets, and means energizing saidelectromagnets momentarily and in sequence for causing said ball toadvance along said track and to jump across said gap.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,384,769 MacLaren July 19, 1921 1,959,737 Rigsby May 22, 1934 2,218,164Carpenter Oct. 15, 1940 2,561,377 Jones July 24, 1951

